Chapter 175: Chapter 86 To Live and Die Together_3
"Doctor Lu, who are you working for?"
Unmoved, she smiled faintly, provocatively meeting his gaze, and uttered two words.
"Guess."
Pei Yunmeng’s eyes flickered as he stared intently at the person before him.
The lamp burned to its base and became increasingly dim.
And in the hazy light, her eyes seemed clear and fragile, too weak to stand in her clothes, like the morning mist of deep autumn that dissipates into smoke at the touch of wind and sunlight.
When he saw her yesterday, she looked pale and frail, but today it was as if she had applied a light layer of rouge. That touch of pale red, like the color of plum blossoms on branches, added a few strokes of vivid beauty to her appearance, beauty that also hid a chill.
Such a woman, deep in schemes, cruel in methods, outwardly different from her true intentions, and with ulterior motives, was paradoxically seen by the world as a merciful goddess who selflessly healed the sick and filled the world of medicine with the spirit of spring.
He sneered, the smile somewhat piercing.
He said, "Is this the confidence you have, Doctor Lu?"
"The Marshal is welcome to try."
The room fell silent for a long while.
Duan Xiaoyan looked at the woman across the table in disbelief and murmured, "Are you crazy, daring to threaten Lord Pei like this?"
Such open and blatant threats, without even a guise of concealment—wasn’t she afraid of the trouble that would follow?
Lu Tong looked down and laughed lightly, speaking indifferently, "Yes, I’m a madwoman, so don’t provoke me casually."
She looked towards Pei Yunmeng, her voice very light, "Besides, haven’t you already benefited now?"
Pei Yunmeng’s pupils contracted slightly.
"Lord Pei," Lu Tong began slowly, "you investigate your cases, and I practice my medicine; we have nothing to do with each other."
"Nothing to do with each other?"
He nodded, contemplating her with a thoughtful look, "So, the words you wanted to say today, Doctor Lu, are just these."
Lu Tong watched him calmly.
The night deepened, no more sounds of footsteps echoed in the courtyard, and in the shadowy, dim yellow light, the two locked eyes, their gazes meeting like the night over Shengjing—dark and teeming with hidden currents.
After a moment, he leaned back, tugging at the corner of his mouth, "I’ll consider it."
He said he would "consider" it.
Lu Tong felt a sinking feeling in her heart, but before she could speak, she saw Pei Yunmeng turn to the guard at the door and say, "Release her."
The guard named Chi Jian let go, and Yin Zheng hurried over, running to Lu Tong and warily watching the people in the room.
Duan Xiaoyan was startled momentarily, then comprehended the situation, perspiration breaking on his forehead as he wailed, "Lord, how can you let her go? I haven’t gotten the antidote yet!"
Pei Yunmeng glanced at him, "Idiot, that’s just a black snake."
"A black snake?" Duan Xiaoyan looked at the dead snake on the table, momentarily baffled, "Wasn’t it Seven Steps Death?"
Lu Tong’s gaze fell on Duan Xiaoyan, her lips curving into a smile.
She said, "Seven Steps Death is a venomous snake. The medical clinic and pharmacies are for saving lives and healing the sick—how could we secretively stock such deadly poison? Moreover, Young Master Duan is from the Palace Front Office, plotting against the Emperor’s guard. Only someone with a death wish would do that."
She returned Duan Xiaoyan’s earlier words to him, and at the end, looked at him with a sincere expression, "That was just a joke I made with Young Master Duan. You didn’t take it seriously, did you?"
Duan Xiaoyan: "..."
It was fake?
But the way she spoke just now didn’t seem like a joke at all.
Pei Yunmeng chuckled softly and stood up.
He said, "We’ve disturbed Doctor Lu tonight. Another day, I’ll have Duan Xiaoyan visit to apologize to Doctor Lu." He glanced at Duan Xiaoyan, "Aren’t you getting up?"
Duan Xiaoyan remained silent for a moment, then scrambled up from the ground, rubbing his arms as he followed, stopping before leaving with an unsaid complaint, full of bottled frustration.
No sooner had they left Renxin Medical Hall than someone called from behind, "Wait."
Pei Yunmeng stopped and turned around, only to see Lu Tong holding a lantern and walking out of the shop.
The woman held a limp dead snake in her hands and approached the door of Renxin Medical Hall, shaking it at Duan Xiaoyan, who was still shaken, instinctively stepping back.
Lu Tong said, "Young Master Duan, although it’s not Seven Steps Death, this black snake still cost me two silver coins. Since you killed it, you should compensate me the silver."
Duan Xiaoyan: "..."
He had been bitten, thoroughly frightened, and now, he had to pay silver. How had he never noticed that Renxin Medical Hall had the potential to be a den of thieves?
However, there stood Lu Tong before him, and after what had transpired that night, Duan Xiaoyan felt instinctively uneasy looking at this ’goddess’ again, so he earnestly took out the silver and handed it over to Lu Tong.
Lu Tong accepted the silver, handed the dead snake to Duan Xiaoyan, who dared not take it; then she hung the snake’s carcass on Pei Yunmeng’s arm, and said faintly, "The snake is yours."